In continuing our series on makers and artisans of San Francisco we recently had the pleasure of photographing head distiller of Gin company Distillery 209, Arne Hillesland.

Headquartered right on the Bay, a stones throw from the SF Giants baseball team, this is the only distillery in the world that is built over water – on renovated Pier 50 in San Francisco. The natural cooling properties of 13 feet of San Francisco bay water beneath the pier keeps the air temperature in the distillery perfect for distilling all year-round.

BTS

Arne is a Bay area native who embodies the Renaissance nature of many of those who inhabit this unique city. Prior to morphing into a world-class master distiller, a.k.a Ginerator, this amateur chef and saxophonist took a twenty-year journey through Silicon Valley and a career in high technology manufacturing and engineering, followed by a detour into start ups and artificial intelligence.

BTS

Follow these guys on instagram https://www.instagram.com/distillery209/

Thanks to the team at 209, Arne Hillesland, Leslie Rudd and Wendi Green, it was a pleasure to visit, appreciate you making it possible.